The Biking Thread
- Thread starter cory
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Kaveman
Treehouser
I have one of these, stripped down and waiting for new paint, and a nice wheelset.
Can't ride it at the house, or anywhere near, need something more like what @Knotorious has, just due to my dirt road.
Sucks on the hills too, because the crank is well forward, so you can't put your weight into it. That said, on flat ground, ridden like a beach cruiser, it's one of the most comfortable bikes I've ridden.
Also, mine has 13in apehangers...
Can't ride it at the house, or anywhere near, need something more like what @Knotorious has, just due to my dirt road.
Sucks on the hills too, because the crank is well forward, so you can't put your weight into it. That said, on flat ground, ridden like a beach cruiser, it's one of the most comfortable bikes I've ridden.
Also, mine has 13in apehangers...
stikine
Treehouser
This caught my eye.
stikine
Treehouser
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
Yup. Something like that would kill me.
Knotorious
That Guy With The Face
That's known as "trials" riding! It can be done on bikes as well as on dirt bikes! It's a very impressive style of riding!
Treeaddict
Treehouser
That’s why I don’t tearass down the hills on the trails.
You don’t see many middle aged people doing that unless there’s some monetary benefit.
You don’t see many middle aged people doing that unless there’s some monetary benefit.
Knotorious
That Guy With The Face
In reference to the video where people keep f*cking themselves up...
I do freeride/downhill mountain biking, so I'm no stranger to getting wrecked. I've done some extreme sh*t, like 30 foot drops, huge jumps with 20 foot gaps, and shore riding (where you ride on wooden structures that are very high off the ground and which are designed to test your balance because everything is extremely narrow, sometimes only as wide as a 2 inches). I'm not bragging, I'm just saying...if you want to be a good bicyclist, you have to be willing to f*ck yourself up.
Well, maybe not if you're just riding on pavement on your cruiser or whatever. But if you want to be a skilled mountain biker, you have to push your limits and accept that you might get wrecked. When I used to race downhill, I would go anywhere between 50-60 MPH down a mountain. My favorite spot is Whistler in British Columbia, Canada. Easily the best mountain biking trails for serious riders, with ski lifts that take you up to the top. Somehow I never broke anything...never even sprained anything...but I've pulled some muscles and ate sh*t tons of times at crazy high speeds, getting deep cuts and scrapes, bleeding everywhere. Got a concussion once or twice.
When we ride freeride and downhill race, we always wear dirt bike helmets (full face), knee pads, elbow pads, and chest/back protection, armored gloves, and clip in pedals so that the intense vibrations from blasting over rock fields won't cause you to lose your footing.
Anyways, that's my rant about the importance of getting wrecked for those of you who are actual mountain bikers. It builds confidence. If you aren't wrecking yourself, you aren't pushing your limits. And if you don't push your limits, then you aren't going to improve beyond your "comfort zone." Go faster, go harder -- smartly and safely -- so that your comfort zone elevates every time you ride. If you do something new and out of your comfort zone and you eat shit, then sack up and try it again until you get it. You'll stop being afraid and, instead, become talented and courageous.
This is my aluminum love child, my Rocky Mountain RM7. You wouldn't know it, but she's been in a ton of wrecks. She's Canadian made, only a small number of this bike produced every year. It weighs 32lbs and has 12 gears, hydraulic disc brakes, 3" wide tires, 26" diameter wheels, and 7" of suspension in the back shock (spring and hydraulic) and 7" in the front fork (hydraulic).
Shit. Now I'm bragging.
I do freeride/downhill mountain biking, so I'm no stranger to getting wrecked. I've done some extreme sh*t, like 30 foot drops, huge jumps with 20 foot gaps, and shore riding (where you ride on wooden structures that are very high off the ground and which are designed to test your balance because everything is extremely narrow, sometimes only as wide as a 2 inches). I'm not bragging, I'm just saying...if you want to be a good bicyclist, you have to be willing to f*ck yourself up.
Well, maybe not if you're just riding on pavement on your cruiser or whatever. But if you want to be a skilled mountain biker, you have to push your limits and accept that you might get wrecked. When I used to race downhill, I would go anywhere between 50-60 MPH down a mountain. My favorite spot is Whistler in British Columbia, Canada. Easily the best mountain biking trails for serious riders, with ski lifts that take you up to the top. Somehow I never broke anything...never even sprained anything...but I've pulled some muscles and ate sh*t tons of times at crazy high speeds, getting deep cuts and scrapes, bleeding everywhere. Got a concussion once or twice.
When we ride freeride and downhill race, we always wear dirt bike helmets (full face), knee pads, elbow pads, and chest/back protection, armored gloves, and clip in pedals so that the intense vibrations from blasting over rock fields won't cause you to lose your footing.
Anyways, that's my rant about the importance of getting wrecked for those of you who are actual mountain bikers. It builds confidence. If you aren't wrecking yourself, you aren't pushing your limits. And if you don't push your limits, then you aren't going to improve beyond your "comfort zone." Go faster, go harder -- smartly and safely -- so that your comfort zone elevates every time you ride. If you do something new and out of your comfort zone and you eat shit, then sack up and try it again until you get it. You'll stop being afraid and, instead, become talented and courageous.
This is my aluminum love child, my Rocky Mountain RM7. You wouldn't know it, but she's been in a ton of wrecks. She's Canadian made, only a small number of this bike produced every year. It weighs 32lbs and has 12 gears, hydraulic disc brakes, 3" wide tires, 26" diameter wheels, and 7" of suspension in the back shock (spring and hydraulic) and 7" in the front fork (hydraulic).
Shit. Now I'm bragging.
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Treeaddict
Treehouser
@Knotorious
I didn’t know you rode like that. Sweet!
I completely agree that you’re gonna crash if you push yourself and the only way to find what you’re capable of is to push yourself. I don’t have that luxury though. If I can’t plumb or arbor due to an injury, my family is in trouble. If I had a desk job or a telework situation and didn’t mess with trees, I’d push myself harder.
I didn’t know you rode like that. Sweet!
I completely agree that you’re gonna crash if you push yourself and the only way to find what you’re capable of is to push yourself. I don’t have that luxury though. If I can’t plumb or arbor due to an injury, my family is in trouble. If I had a desk job or a telework situation and didn’t mess with trees, I’d push myself harder.
Treeaddict
Treehouser
I’m riding a 2011 Fuji Nevada mountain bike that I bought from a bike shop for 450.00 13 years ago. It works but isn’t great. I rode my neighbors full suspension, 29” tire, drop seat, wide handlebar Trek (don’t know the series) which is lighter than mine which has none of those features. The difference is amazing. It feels safer as the large tires roll over things my 26” tires have trouble with. The full suspension doesn’t allow the bike to jostled as much helping me stay steady. I’d say a drop post seat is a must to not go over the handlebars on steeper downhills (not that I fly or do jumps). So I’m looking at new and used bikes. What’s labeled as a good bike can set you back 6K easily. I’m not going over 2K and trying to find one for around 1200.00 gently used. May have to spend more though. I never realized how complicated bike shopping can be. Only way to get what I want new under 2K is factory direct and self assemble. Hoping Marketplace has some good deals though. This purchase preparation is more detailed and complicated than buying a vehicle. There are simply so many brands and they use 3rd party components and there’s quite a few 3rd parties. There may be 20 different models of brakes from one manufacturer. Only things I really care about are the 29” wheels, drop post seat, and dual suspension.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #318
I went for a sweet ride on saturday in beautiful spring weather, rode 11mi one way to the CT Tree Climbing Championship, it was in Bridgeport CT at Seaside park which is a rather large park right on the, um, you guessed it, seaside.
Had fun watching a bunch of good climbers, chatted up some old friends and then had an equally sweet ride back. As usual, was so fun to explore an area by bike, checked out sweet, small, waterside neighborhoods as well as nearby fully industrial areas.
Biking FTW
Had fun watching a bunch of good climbers, chatted up some old friends and then had an equally sweet ride back. As usual, was so fun to explore an area by bike, checked out sweet, small, waterside neighborhoods as well as nearby fully industrial areas.
Biking FTW
Patrick A
Treehouser
I was in the tree at the aerial rescue event to relocate the injured climber half of the day. That dummy weighs almost 200lbs.I went for a sweet ride on saturday in beautiful spring weather, rode 11mi one way to the CT Tree Climbing Championship, it was in Bridgeport CT at Seaside park which is a rather large park right on the, um, you guessed it, seaside.
Had fun watching a bunch of good climbers, chatted up some old friends and then had an equally sweet ride back. As usual, was so fun to explore an area by bike, checked out sweet, small, waterside neighborhoods as well as nearby fully industrial areas.
Biking FTW
Treeaddict
Treehouser
Eye put inn too ours on the trails today. This was at Palmer State Park and it was my first time checking it out. Not much crazy downhill or uphill which is what I like. It’s all about building cardio pulmonary endurance while in a beautiful setting, loosing weight, and pushing myself. If I drop another 30 lbs, rope walking up the tree should be a breeze. Most aspects of the job should be easier except pushing heavy rounds or pulling something heavy.
Attachments
Treeaddict
Treehouser
Question: is it a a good idea/necessary to rest between mountain biking sessions? Is it like weight lifting where you need recovery time?
I’ve been going on the bike approximately every other day for 2 hours and I’ve been getting a 4 hour session once a week. I’m not really sore anywhere like after an anaerobic workout. Can I ride daily adverse affects because it’s an aerobic exercise and maybe muscles don’t break down in those conditions?
@pigwot is a/the bike expert on here for sure but we may have some other well seasoned folks.
I’ve been going on the bike approximately every other day for 2 hours and I’ve been getting a 4 hour session once a week. I’m not really sore anywhere like after an anaerobic workout. Can I ride daily adverse affects because it’s an aerobic exercise and maybe muscles don’t break down in those conditions?
@pigwot is a/the bike expert on here for sure but we may have some other well seasoned folks.
pigwot
M's, Juniper's, Lowen’s, and Inge’s Grandpa
Daily rides are not a bad idea unless you are pushing yourself to the point of experiencing injuries, strains, sprains. Regular aerobic exercise is good as long as you’re eating and sleeping well.
Treeaddict
Treehouser
Spe
Thank you Pat! Speaking of eating, is it better to go riding on a full belly or ride to work up an appetite? Definitely get 7-8 hrs of sleep per night.
pigwot
M's, Juniper's, Lowen’s, and Inge’s Grandpa
I would eat a full meal at least a good hour or more before riding hard, as I have gastroparesis (slow stomach emptying rate). Others I know eat’n’go without an issue. On longer rides I’ll snack as I go, smaller quantities of easy-to-digest items.
